A new hereditary disease in Braunvieh cattle in Switzerland: spinal demyelinization (SDM) in calves that remain in lateral recumbency
Stocker, H.; Pusterla, J.B.; Lutz, H.; Ossent, P.
Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde 138(6): 295-300
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7281 PMID: 8765544 Document Number: 468536
Clinical, laboratory and histopathological findings are described in ten Braunvieh calves with Spinal Dysmyelination (SDM). Characteristically, immediately after birth the animals were normally alert but remained in lateral recumbency with opisthotonus, spastic hind limbs, partially increased spinal reflexes and were unable to stand or support themselves. Histological examination of the spinal cord revealed a bilateral symmetrical reduction of myelin. Means of differentiating between SDM and other conditions, in particular spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are discussed.